The First Steps of the Rest of Your Life

by Rhino

Chapter 66: Adaptations

***Sunday, Day 84***
**Morning**

I glance at the spot before turning to Twilight to address what I feel is the more important issue. “So, does this mean all of you will be heading to retrieve the fragment immediately?”

She nods. “Yes, since we don’t know how long the magical flare allowing us to see it on the map will last, we have to head out now.” She looks at the filly on my back. “Why do you have Ruby with you?”

Pinchy speaks up, sheepishly smiling. "...we wanted your opinion on something?" She glances at the map. "It might not be as pressing as that, but my magic is..." She puts a hoof to her chin, thinking for a bit before turning to me, slightly confused. "Fizzy? I can't think of the right word..."

I look back at her, concerned. “Are you sure? You seemed worried before.”

"I was - I still am! But I don't want to interrupt this." She motions to the group in front of us. "And besides, even if I don't currently have magic, I still have my ku-" She stops mid-sentence, eyes wide. "...I can't use those...not without my magic..." She groans, curling up into a ball on my back, covering her face with her hooves.

I frown as I twist my head further to nuzzle her gently before turning back to the others in the room. “I understand you have to leave for Princess Luna’s mission, so go on. The sooner you get back, the sooner I can talk to you and Volt about this.”

Twilight nods as the others get ready to leave. “We were planning on only everypony here going for the first trip anyway.” She walks up and speaks to the little pink ball that is Pinchy. “Don’t worry, we’ll be thinking about what may be happening to you on the way and be back as soon as we can.”

The filly moves a foreleg just enough to see the purple unicorn. "...th-thank you, Twilight..." She sniffles, trying to dry the fur under her eyes. "...good luck...not that you'll need it." She uncurls herself, smiling as best she can.

Twilight smiles softly at the filly before she follows the others out the door.

I look around at the empty library as I register some soft snores presumably coming from Spike upstairs. Trying to cheer her up, I ask, “Well, we’ve got the place to ourselves. Anything you want to read?”

She tilts her head, looking around. "...you know, I've never been in here this long...not even in my own dimension..." She taps my cheek, smiling softly. "What would you recommend, dad?"

I walk over to one of the shelves as I share my love of reading with her. “Well, I find fiction to be an excellent time-sink and it helps broaden the mind...”

She walks up next to me, pulling one out with her mouth. She holds it up to me between her forehooves, looking at me with wide eyes. "Can you read this with me, Dad?"

I chuckle as I bring over some cushions. “Alright little miss hypnotising cuteness. Let’s see what you have there...” I lie down and spend the next few hours reading with her tucked up against my chest. Quite an excellent way to spend a Sunday if I do say so myself.

***Starlight Hunters***

The small group of three unicorns and three pegasi make their way through the forest at a fair pace. Blue and Orion are leading, since the former knows the forest like no other pony and the latter holds the map. As they proceed, Blue takes on the role of a park ranger, keeping everypony away from dangerous animals, plants, and terrain. After about half an hour at a brisk pace, everypony agrees to a rest in a clearing they encounter.

Blue continues to look around until he decides to makes an announcement. “I’m going to see if I can scout ahead. Be back in a few minutes.” With that, he flares his wings and launches himself upwards. As soon as he clears the canopy he is lost to sight.

Atom patrols around the clearing, looking as close to his former occupation as possible even without the armor.

Meanwhile, Orion has cleared himself a spot by flapping his wings to leave the patch he was standing on free of loam and leaves.

The voice of Rarity makes itself known from next to him. “Pardon me, might I share this clean patch of grass?”

The white stallion looks up to find the alabaster mare smiling winningly at him. He smiles back and gestures with a sweeping hoof.

The fashionista titters. “Oh my, such a gentlecolt.”

The two seat themselves and Rarity takes it upon herself to chat.

“So my dear stallion, tell me: Given that Princess Luna herself gave you this mission personally, does this mean you are one of the Canterlot nobles?”

The pegasus seems unfazed by the question as he answers casually. “In a manner of speaking I suppose I am. My position in Princess Luna’s Astronomer’s Guild does grant me privileges normally associated with the nobility. However, I am not technically counted as a noble.”

Rarity nods as she looks over his clothing. “And is this the official uniform for the Guild?”

He chuckles as he turns to her. “Close, but not quite. The actual uniform of the guild is a set of robes with this color scheme. Most members only where it to official meetings though. This is actually a set I put together because it matched the uniform yet is easy enough to move in that one could wear it during normal day-to-day activities.”

The mare looks at him quizzically. “You don’t take the average pony’s approach and simply wear nothing most days?”

He simply shakes his head. “No, I never did feel comfortable strolling around without garments. Still, I feel that wearing the right clothes can give quite the first impression. The color scheme also reminds me of my dedication to her highness.” He looks down at the map. “Hmm, it appears the flare has stopped, no matter. I already marked where it occurred so we can keep going.”

The two continue chatting about such things until Blue finally busts down through the canopy in a flurry of leaves. “Finally! Sorry I took so long, it’s almost impossible to tell the difference between some areas when you’re above them, this is the third spot I tried to find all of you at!”

Twilight and Volt walk over as the former comments. “Then we should stick together on the ground so nopony gets lost.” The others all nod in agreement before they continue on their way.

Soon enough, the group arrives at another clearing, this one filled with soft dirt and the occasional marshy ground.

Orion turns to the alabaster mare. “Rarity, if you would?”

“Of course,” Rarity says with refinement as she light up her horn with her gem-finding spell. She walks around the clearing, horn to the ground as the others look around for themselves. After about 15 minutes of this, they all meet back up and shake their heads at each other’s questioning glances.

Orion frowns as he thinks out loud. “I don’t understand… the map said it should be right here, and Princess Luna assured me that a gem-finding spell should be able to locate it if we couldn’t see it ourselves.”

Rarity shakes her head again as she looks to their navigator. “I apologize, darling, but there simply isn’t anything my spell is picking up in this clearing.”

Atom looks between everypony. “So, does this mean we go back empty-hooved?”

Orion nods sullenly. “We don’t have a choice. The flare ended and none of the others are showing up. We have no leads at the moment.”

The mood on the journey back to town is noticeably disappointed for all involved.

***Back in town***

Pinchy and I are still enjoying reading together, after leaving for lunch and coming back, when Twilight and Volt walk back in the door no worse for wear.

As they register the fact that we are pretty much where they left us, I greet them. “Hey you two, how was the star hunt?”

The lavender unicorn huffs lightly. “Unproductive, we got there as fast as we could but when we arrived at the location, there wasn’t anything there.”

Volt continues from there. “We aren’t sure whether it was a fluke or whether somepony got there before us. All we can do is try again for the next one.”

Pinchy looks up at them, gently rubbing her eye with a hoof. "Maybe Rainbow could help? She's fast, so she could get there quicker, right?"

Twilight shakes her head. “That’s a good idea. We thought of that, but even with Blue’s knowledge of the forest he almost lost us a few times when he flew above the trees. Rainbow would have to stay with us so nopony gets lost. She isn’t the most patient pony for those kinds of things.”

Volt looks to Pinchy and I. “So, you two said something about Ruby’s magic acting strangely?”

I look down to my little filly. “Do you want to tell them or should I?”

Pinchy yawns softly, shaking her head. "...I always get tired when I read a lot...I'm gonna take a..." She rests her head against my neck, falling asleep instantly.

I explain in short to the two other unicorns about the problems Pinchy described to me. The increasing inability to cast her spells up until her recent failed attempts at basic levitation. I also tell them of how she describes her magic as ‘feeling different’ than it used to.

Twilight and Volt are silent for a moment afterwards. They begin speaking to each other in fragmented sentences as they walk over to the basement door and continue talking even as I hear them gather equipment.

I feel a pressure around one of my forelegs as the noise increases. I look down to see that Pinchy is holding my hoof close, nuzzling it in her sleep like a teddy bear. I smile down at her and curl my neck around her sleeping form.

Eventually, the clattering of machines dies down and they both walk up with various machines levitating in their auras.

Volt turns to me. “Follow me, we’re going to bring all this to my apartment so I can tweak it for some tests.”

I nod as I carefully stand up and float the filly onto my back. We four unicorns quickly make our way towards Volt’s place, equipment still held in the couple’s grasp. Soon enough we see the complex coming up, and the sea-green stallion leads the way to his door so he can unlock it for us.

We enter the apartment in a small hallway and walk into the main room. It certainly fits its resident. Wires and circuits can be seen running all throughout the rooms, either as part of some of the crazy electrical setups or just sitting there on their own. Instead of posters, blueprints dot the walls around us. Shoved to the side, I can see a few barely recognizable items. One appears to be a pinball machine, while another appears to be a massage chair of some sort that has been mutilated to the point that it looks like an electric chair. Only in one part of the room is there a semblance of order, and that is a small work desk with a photo of Volt and Twilight on it.

The couple set down the machines and Twilight starts hooking them up as Volt explains while grabbing various tools. “What we are going to try to do here is an overall scan of her magic use and potential then compare it to what you know she has been able to do in the past. Twilight gave me a sample she took of Ruby’s dimensional residue, and with it I should be able to measure it accurately.”

I nod as I look at him with all seriousness. “Will it hurt her?”

Volt looks back at the array of machines. “Theoretically no.”

I narrow my eyes at him, a low growl forming in my chest. “You hurt her, I hurt you.”

He nods quickly. “I understand.”

I go back to my usual calm self as Twilight finishes setting up the machine and Volt makes the adjustments. After a minute or two, they finish and walk back over to me.

Twilight’s horn lights up as her aura surrounds Pinchy, “Now all we have to do is put her in...”

At that exact moment, I feel four little legs tighten around my torso. I hear a small whimper, followed by a few mumbled words. "...no...I don't want to go...I want to stay with Dad..."

All of our eyes soften at her display as Twilight stops trying to move her. I reach my head back and try to nuzzle her gently awake. “Wake up Pinchy...”

The filly slowly wakes, blinking as her eyes focus. She looks up at me, smiling brightly. "Morning, Dad." She glances around, confusion clear on her face. "...where are we?"

“We’re at Volt’s house.” I gesture to the parts around us. “And we’re here to run some tests to figure out what’s happening to you, alright?”

She nods quietly, staring at the machine. "...it...it won't shock me...will it?"

Volt smiles. “It didn’t shock me.”

She turns to him, tilting her head a bit. "...okay, then. I guess it'll be alright..." She taps my cheek softly. "Dad? Can I please hold your hoof?"

I walk her over to the machine. “Of course.” I lift her off my back and place her onto the seat and Twilight straps her forelegs in and puts on helmet that looks like a colander with Hearth’s Warming lights on it. I set my hoof next to hers and she grabs onto it. I nod to the other two unicorns as I feel Pinchy’s grip tighten.

Volt flips a switch. The lights on the helmet start blinking as other machines whir. Throughout it all, one particular machine is spewing out a stream of paper as a graph is drawn on it. No pony says anything as the two look over the graph as the machine does its thing.

"...Twilight? Volt?" Even without looking at her, I can tell she's nervous. "I-is that it?"

I don’t think the two hear her as they continue pouring over the papers. I clear my throat loudly to get their attention.

Twilight jumps. “Oh, right.” She shuts off the machine and takes the helmet off the filly while undoing the restraints.

As she clambers back up onto my back I look seriously at the mare. “Well, that was a bit anticlimactic. So what’s the verdict?”

She walks back over to Volt and the two converse a moment before turning around. “Well, first, Ruby, do you want something to calm your nerves?”

Pinchy nods, trembling slightly. "...a glass of milk, please?"

Volt points us towards the kitchen as he and Twilight go back to discussing the results. I find the fridge and a glass easily enough as I set Pinchy down on the floor. After I pour a glass of it for her, I look at the container and my eyes widen in horror.

Skim milk...

I levitate the glass back to Pinchy with a grimace as I trot back into the living room. “Volt? I thought you had milk, not water with milk in it.”

He scratches the back of his head with a hoof. “Sorry, it’s what I drink.”

That explains so much.

"Dad?"

I turn to see Pinchy sitting in the kitchen doorway. In her forehooves is the glass, with almost the same amount of liquid. She speaks, holding it up. "Why does this taste strange?"

“Because that is skim milk, Pinchy, or as I like to call it: imitation milk.”

"Oh." She glances at it, then back at me. "...can I have some of the milk at home, instead? I don't like how this tastes..."

I nod, inwardly proud at her tastes in milk. “Sure you can. Just go put it in the sink.”

She nods back, smiling. "Thanks, Dad!" She slowly stands up on her hindlegs, carefully making her way towards the sink.

After she comes back in and settles herself on her favorite spot, namely me, I look towards the couple and give them a nod to begin.

Volt starts off. “Right, as you might guess, the frequencies of the various universes differentiate from each other. Conceptually, this is also true for magic and the way it is used in each universe. From what we can determine, since she has been in ours for so long, her magic, originally born from her own universe, is slowly being adapted to suit the frequencies of our own.”

Twilight continues from here. “The readings suggest that almost all traces of her original dimension’s magic have been replaced by those native to our own. In addition, I’ve noticed her internal capacity for magical energy being slowly filled the longer she is here. I would theorize that in her own universe, Ruby used the magic around her to cast spells instead of the magic within her. Whether this was the way all unicorns did this there is irrelevant, the point is she did it.” She stops to take a breath before continuing. “However, as all of you know, in our universe each unicorn has their own supply of magical energy and to use energy other than that requires either specific spells or enchantments to do so.”

Volt takes the baton again. “Thus as her magic becomes attuned to our own, she will likely absorb the kind of magic she is around the most. That would be yours, Rhino. She will likely grow to reflect your magic to some degree as her body adjusts to having a constant source of magic within itself. The reason she cannot cast spells is due to this change. She is used to casting spells her way, bringing in magic and shaping it. Now, for her to use it, she must be taught how to bring forth the magic from herself and use it in a way you might. From the readings, we think that, in time, she will adjust to our universe completely and be like any other unicorn filly, albeit with more of a talent with magic than most.”

I nod as I absorb the information. “I understand.”

"So I'll be using Dad's magic?" She giggles, grinning happily. "That means he can teach me how to control it, right? Like he does with Sweetie Belle?"

I look back at her. “Well, sort of, but not exactly. See, Sweetie Belle had to be taught everything about magic from the ground up and can use it like most unicorns can. For you, it’s more like you were taught magic under a different set of rules and now I’ll be teaching you my rules. You get the more personalized experience.” I quirk an eyebrow at her. “And did you really understand everything they just said?”

She lowers her head, her ears flattening in embarrassment. "...not really...I felt like I was thrown into the middle of a budget meeting in Canterlot...I only understood bits and pieces..." She turns to the side, whispering quietly enough so only I could hear her. "...two different dimensions, almost exactly the same Twilight..." She looks out the window, curious. "...Dad? Today's Sunday, right?"

I tilt my head at her. “Yes, why?”

She rolls her hoof slowly, smiling softly. "Don't you tutor Sweetie today, Dad?"

My eyes snap open as I quickly check my watch. “Yes, yes I do. And we need to get moving if we want to get there in time.” I look to the other two. “Sorry about leaving so suddenly, but thanks for all your help with this.”

They both wave it off as Twilight speaks for both of them. “Not a problem, this has been a very interesting experience.”

I look back at my daughter. “Anything you want to add, Pinchy?”

She waves at the other unicorns, beaming brightly. "Thank you both very much!" She turns to Volt, then to me, gently tapping my cheek and whispering in my ear. "That marker thingy is kind of distracting, Dad...why did she not take it off him, yet?"

I whisper back as I grin in the couple’s direction. “Probably because she still doesn’t want any other mares getting the wrong idea. A bit like if I decided to put a magical marker on you saying you’re my daughter, but there’s not really a point to that seeing as I don’t think anyone else will think you’re theirs.”

She looks up at them, and I feel a hoof lift off my back. "Okay, dad."

We quickly head out towards Sweetie’s parents’ house. Content with the knowledge we had gained on Pinchy’s condition.

Comments

[DigitalChaos]

Dang awesome story stop making me procrastinate on mine!

But Pinchy's okay, and the story is awesome, so it's all good.
I predict Sweetie Belle and Pinchy will have to take lessons together!

[Atomic Vortex]

Volt's gonna be wearing that marker for the rest of his life! MUAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!